Texas Talks

On this episode of Texas Talks, host Brad Swail interviews Texas State Representative John Lujan of House District 118. A former firefighter and Bexar County sheriff’s deputy, Lujan shares his personal journey into public service, his passion for education and faith-based community work, and the real-world impact of Texas border policy. Rep. Lujan offers insights on the need for practical, bipartisan solutions at the Texas-Mexico border, his role on the Homeland Security & Public Safety Committee, and why strong families and local engagement matter more than ever. Whether you're interested in border policy, Latino leadership, or public safety reform, this conversation br...

In this episode of the Texas Talks podcast, host Brad Swail sits down with Texas State Representative Gary Gates of House District 28. Known for his endurance as an Ironman triathlete and his leadership as Chairman of the Land and Resource Management Committee, Rep. Gates dives into two major legislative initiatives: expanding vocational education for high school students and reforming Housing Finance Corporations (HFCs) to protect taxpayers and increase transparency. They discuss Gates' landmark vocational training bill (HB 20), which aims to prepare students for high-paying, in-demand jobs without the burden of college debt. The conversation then shifts to housing policy and...

Senator Paul Bettencourt returns to Texas Talks for a wide-ranging conversation on the most significant legislative moves shaping Texas today. From a record-breaking property tax relief package to launching the largest education savings account program, Bettencourt dives into the priorities driving the 2025 legislative session. Host Brad Swail explores school choice, support for special needs education, and how reforms are tackling housing affordability and tax burdens for Texas seniors. It’s a deep look at policy changes with real-life impact.

Brad Swail sits down with Texas State Representative Briscoe Cain (HD-128) for a wide-ranging and candid conversation on some of the most pressing legislative issues in the Lone Star State. Rep. Cain discusses the landmark push for universal school choice through Educational Savings Accounts (ESAs), the controversial "District of Austin" bill, and his strong stance against taxpayer-funded lobbying. Cain also shares his views on how to phase out property taxes, tackle local government overspending, and what he sees as the future of public education in Texas. They also explore the implications of recent legislation affecting memes and political speech, and...

Ashley Spence, founder of the DNA Justice Project and author of Silent Witness, shares her harrowing story of surviving a brutal assault—and how a DNA match seven years later finally brought her attacker to justice. In this powerful episode of Texas Talks, Ashley explains how current laws on DNA collection are saving lives and why rapid DNA technology could revolutionize the criminal justice system. She also opens up about healing, advocacy, and the fight for legislative change in Texas and beyond. From personal trauma to national reform, this interview is a must-watch for anyone who cares about justice, safety, an...

In this conversation, we’re joined by Chris Williston, President & CEO of the Independent Bankers Association of Texas (IBAT), representing over 2,000 banks and branches across 700 Texas communities. 🔍 In This Episode: - The vital role of community banks in rural Texas towns - Why swipe fee legislation (SB 2026 & HB 4124) could hurt small banks and benefit big-box retailers - How alternative currencies and stablecoins could drain lending power from local banks - The legacy of banking in the Williston family and why relationship-based lending still matters - Behind-the-scenes challenges facing Texas' independent banks - Chris breaks down complex policy issues in a way t...

Why is Texas importing trash from China and Mexico? In this episode of the Texas Talks podcast, Brad Swail sits down with Dr. Raymond Robertson—international economist at Texas A&M and Director of the Mosbacher Institute—to unpack a surprising trade reality: Texas doesn’t recycle enough to meet its own demand for recycled materials. They discuss what economics is really about (hint: it’s human behavior), why bottle deposit systems are gaining attention, how recycling impacts energy use and jobs, and the political push to make Texas a leader in responsible consumption. This is an eye-opening conversation that blends t...

In this episode of Texas Talks, host Brad Swail sits down with Texas State Senator Molly Cook, a sixth-generation Texan, registered nurse, and first-time elected official representing Senate District 15 in Houston. Senator Cook brings her real-world experience from the emergency room straight into the legislature — and she’s not wasting any time. They dig into her "Nurse First Agenda," a bold, holistic policy platform rooted in public health, housing stability, emergency preparedness, criminal justice reform, and youth safety. Senator Cook lays out why every bill is a health bill, how clean air and tenant protections save lives, and why CPR trai...

Travis McCormick is the founder of the Make Texans Healthy Again movement, which aims to tackle the alarming rise in chronic diseases, poor nutrition, and preventable health challenges across Texas. https://www.maketexanshealthyagain.com/ https://x.com/Travis15mcc

James Quintero is the Policy Director for the Taxpayer Protection Project of the Texas Public Policy Foundation. James joins the show to discuss property taxes in Texas, proposals to reign them in, M&O taxes paying for bond debt, and much more. https://www.texaspolicy.com/ https://x.com/JamesQuinteroTX

Graham Dugoni is the CEO and Founder of Over Yondr, a company that produces pouches and other tools to alleviate the intrusion of personal technology to create vital, distraction-free experiences that enrich people’s lives. https://www.overyondr.com/

Annie Spilman is a Texas Lobbyist and representative for the Texas Business Association. She joins the show to discuss unions in Texas, the government collecting union dues, and much more. https://www.txbusinesscoalition.com/ https://x.com/tbc_com https://www.facebook.com/TexasBusinessCoalition

Representative Caroline Fairly of Texas House District 87 is not only the youngest member of the Texas House as well as the first Gen Z representative. She joins the show to discuss banning electronic devices in schools, protecting people from deepfake sexually explicit visual material, and much more. https://x.com/FairlyForTexas https://www.fairlyfortexas.com/

Ryan Walters is a former Oklahoma public school teacher and the current Superintendent of Public Instruction in Oklahoma. Ryan discusses how Oklahoma handles school choice, school finance, teacher pay, union dues, and more. ryanwaltersforoklahoma.com https://x.com/RyanWaltersSupt

Tony McDonald is a conservative civil rights attorney and 1st amendment litigator. He joins the show to discuss the Texas Ethic Commission generally, as well as the Michael Quinn Sullivan v TEC case that he is trying to push to the Supreme Court. https://x.com/TweetTonyMac https://tonymcdonald.com/

Wayne Christian is a politician and financial planner who has served as a member of the Railroad Commission of Texas since 2017. A member of the Republican Party, Christian formerly served in the Texas House of Representatives for the 9th district, which included Jasper, Nacogdoches, Sabine, San Augustine, and Shelby counties in East Texas.

Ellen Troxclair is an American small business owner and politician who is a member of the Texas House of Representatives for District 19. A member of the Republican Party, Troxclair was the youngest woman ever elected to the Austin City Council, where she served the 8th district from 2015 to 2019.

Mayes Middleton is an American businessman and politician serving as a member of the Texas Senate for the 11th district. Previously, he served as a Texas House of Representatives for district 23. A member of the Republican Party, Middleton has been in the Texas legislature since January 8, 2019.

Terri Behling is Director of Communications at Haven for Hope, an organization that addresses the root causes of homelessness by offering programming tailored to the specific needs of the individual. Their unique approach is person-centered, trauma-informed and recovery-oriented. The goal is to meet individuals where they are and support them as they move toward self-sufficiency. https://www.havenforhope.org/

Todd Staples is the president of the Texas Oil and Gas Association and previously served as the Texas Agriculture Commissioner, as well as a Texas State Senator and Representative. He joins the show to discuss the record breaking amount of tax revenue the Oil and Gas industry brought to Texas in 2024, who benefits, the future of energy in Texas, and much more. https://www.txoga.org/

Lee Parsley is the General Counsel and President for Texans for Lawsuit Reform (TLR), an organization focused on tort and lawsuit reform in Texas. Lee discusses Nuclear Verdicts, Public Nuisance Lawsuits, and the effects of lawfare on Texans. https://www.tortreform.com/

Jennifer Rabb is the president of TTARA (Texas Taxpayers and Research Association) and joins the show to discuss the tax landscape in Texas - property taxes, school taxes, business taxes, and how Texas is faring under it all. https://ttara.org/

Texas Senator Nathan Johnson of Senate District 16 joins the show to discuss infrastructure: everything from physical infrastructure, but also education and government programs. https://linktr.ee/NathanForTexas

Tony Bennett is the President and CEO of the Texas Association of Manufacturers, a position he has held since 2012. The Texas Association of Manufacturers gives voice to more than 600 small and large companies at the State Capitol as well as in Washington, DC. Tony joins the show to discuss education, energy, foreign trade, AI, and much more as it all relates to manufacturing. https://manufacturetexas.org/

Dr. Ben Carson is the former 17th Secretary of the US Department of Housing and Urban and Development, founder and Chairman of the American Cornerstone Institute, and currently serves on the Texas Education Agency Open Education Resource advisory board. Dr. Carson joins the show to discuss the recently approved Open Education Resource curriculum here in Texas, how to inspire kids to learn, modern cultural issues, and more.

Cameron Abrams is a reporter for The Texan, a statewide political news organization focusing on Texas news and politics. In addition to being a reporter, he is a doctoral candidate with a focus on postmodern philosophical influences in education. We discuss the recent Texas Legislative elections and the potential ramifications for policy and legislation in the upcoming 89th Texas Legislature.

Writer, speaker, consultant, and lobbyist, Adam Jones joins the show to discuss education finance in Texas. Adam served as the Deputy Commissioner and Chief Operating Officer for the Texas Education Agency from 2003 - 2012. Since then he founded CapitolJones to help organizations achieve their objectives, and presents regularly at education and government conferences.

Ken W. Good is a noted bail attorney and board member of the Professional Bondsmen of Texas, and who has worked closely with lawmakers, argued cases before the Supreme Court of Texas among others. He is the author of Good’s on Bail. Ken joins the show to discuss the recent correction in crime statistics, crime trends in Texas, the bail system in Texas, and efforts in the next legislative session.

Ray Martinez is the President and CEO of the Texas Association of Community Colleges, providing leadership to advance state policy, institutional practices and research in support of Texas Community Colleges. Ray discusses the role that community colleges play in Texas Higher Ed, workforce alignment in Texas' Building a Talent Strong Texas plan, changing the funding mechanism for community colleges, and more.

Aaron Silva is a former candidate for Eanes ISD School Board, lifelong entrepreneur, and founder of Paladin-fs, a professional technology contract negotiation company for community banks and credit unions. He is also the founder of Texas Education Project 103. Aaron discusses the importance of fair elections at the local level, financial and educational issues facing school districts across the state, and more.

Senator Brandon Creighton represents Senate District 4, encompassing parts of Montgomery, Harris, Chambers, Jefferson and Galveston Counties. He is the chair of not only the Education Committee, but the Higher Education Subcommittee, as well. During his tenure he has taken the lead on key issues that matter to Texas job creators, fought excessive taxation, and passed legislation to improve Texas schools. Senator Creighton discusses DEI, the Deathstar Bill, Election Integrity, and Education in Texas.

John Hryhorchuk is the Senior Vice President of Policy and Advocacy at Texas 2036, a non-partisan, data driven public policy think tank here in Austin, Texas. John previously worked as the Deputy Director of Budget and Policy for Governor Greg Abbott, and he joins us here today. John discusses many issues facing Texas today including health care, mental health, education, water sustainability, and more.

This week's guest is Representative David Spiller of House District 68, which spans across 12 counties here in Texas. He serves on multiple committees, including as cochair of the Texas Energy Fund Advisory committee. He discusses border security, foreign ownership of land, water availability, and the electric grid. Lern more: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100069525410865

Chris Powers, founder and CEO of Fort Capital, a real estate investment firm having completed more than $2.1B in real estate transactions in Texas, Tennessee, and Florida. He is also the host of The Fort podcast, a show about entrepreneurship where each episode's mission is to up your game by hearing directly from men and women in the arena. https://fort-companies.com/ https://x.com/fortworthchris https://www.thefortpod.com/

Chris Baker is executive director of The Other One's Foundation, a homeless service provider focusing on shelter and workforce services. Since graduating from the State University of New York at Oneonta in 2007, Chris has worked many different jobs in the field of homeless services and activism, but also as a musician, writer, and even paralegal. He started The Other Ones Foundation in the summer of 2017 to bring his innovative ideas for addressing homelessness to life.

Lieutenant Game Warden Aaron Sims is a public information officer for the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. He joins the show to discuss hunting and boat safety, poaching, wildlife conservancy, and more. Website: https://tpwd.texas.gov/

Dax Gonzalez is the Governmental Relations Division Director at the Texas Association of School Boards. Dax joins the show to discuss TASB advocacy efforts including increasing local control, improved funding, school choice/vouchers, and more. https://www.tasb.org/

Representative Cody Vasut represents House District 25, which comprises southern and western Brazoria County. He currently serves as Vice Chair of the Business & Industry Committee and member of the Judiciary & Civil Jurisprudence Committees. Rep. Vasut discusses the need for additional transparency with campaign finance records, affordable housing, potential changes to the house parliamentarian and points of order, and more. X: https://x.com/cvasut

Representative Mihaela Plesa of Texas House District 70, which includes parts of Dallas, Richardson, Plano, and Allen, is a first generation Romanian American. She discusses education, women's health and reproduction, THC and compassionate use, and more. Website: https://www.plesafortexas.com/

Senator Jose Menendez of Texas Senate District 26 in Bexar County, joins the show to discuss Interim Hearings in the Texas Legislature. The discussion includes a potential ban on Delta 8 and 9 products, social media and children, catching kids up in education, and more. http://www.josemenendez.com/ https://x.com/Menendez4Texas https://www.facebook.com/Menendez4Texas